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SUNNY ‘The Hitman’ Hira goes into battle on a bumper bill of kickboxing in Birmingham tonight, inspired by an action-packed DVD and his mum’s cooking.

Hira has three world titles and takes the first step towards what he hopes will be a lucrative career in K1 at the Oyster Suite in Sherlock Street when he squares up to British No 1 John Dick in a show that also features British champions Richard ‘Whirlwind’ Waller and Paul Bradbury.

All are the latest success stories from Kash ‘The Flash’ Gill’s gym on Icknield Port Road and Hira has been motivated by watching the DVD that charts his trainer’s career while tucking into his mum’s meals.

Gill won four world titles and all the action is on the ‘Kickboxing Legend’ DVD that Hira has been glued to in the weeks leading up to tonight’s fight.

“Kash was an electrifying fighter,” said the 26-year-old from Handsworth. “I was watching his DVD to inspire me. I’m a bit surprised he made me pay for it! Watching that reminds me that I’m trained by a legend and you can’t ask for more.”

Hira has achieved much – world titles at super-bantamweight, featherweight and super-featherweight - and says he has to keep winning to repay mum Mohinder’s support.

He said: “Every time I come back from the gym late at night, there’s a meal waiting. I tell my mum not to wait up and not to bother cooking, but she always does. She is my chef, my nutritionist and my biggest fan.”

Hira’s next target is the K1 circuit that rewards its heroes with bumper pay-days.

Fighters in K1 are allowed to use knees along with fists and feet and Hira said: “The fights are shown all over the world and that could be where my future lies.”